richardson



RIO HARD S O N. ILLUMINATED SIGN APPARATUS.

2 SheetsSheet 1.

(NuModelJ No.581,01'1. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

(.No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. 11. RICHARDSON ILLUMINATED SIGNAPPARATUS.

No. 581,011. Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

awwwtoz JOSEPH H. RICHARDSON, OF

ILLUEVHNATED SEGN PATENT @rricn.

ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPEGIFIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,011, dated April20, 1897'.

Application filed June 1 1896 To all whom it may coltcci'ltx Be it knownthat I, J osnrn H. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residingat Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ill u initiated-SignApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements, as hereinafter set forth, inilluminated-sign apparatus.

The object'of my invention is to produce an apparatus having theadvantages ot' simplicity of construction and detail, compactness, theleast number of parts, and perfection of operation forautomaticallyexhibiting upon the street, pavement, wall, screen, or thelike a series of illuminated pictorial or other objects in successionfor advertising or other purposes, and also for simultaneouslyindicating the exact time as well as the advertising or other matter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional sideelevation of my complete apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a sectionalelevation thereof on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction ofthe arrows a. Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow 1).

The design of my invention is to produce an apparatus for automaticallyexhibiting advertisin g or other matter and the time of day, either withor without pictorial or other objects, in fully as effective a manner ashas heretofore been attempted, the mechanism employed by me, however,being of fewer parts and less complexity than has heretofore beenrequired in apparatus of this character.

1 represents the box or case within which the devices to be exhibited,the mechanism for actuating the advertisemcut-carrier and the clock, andthe exhibiting devices are contained. This box or case maybe of anymetal or material and of any shape or size, as desired or found mostconvenient. In the drawings I have shown the box or case of the utmostcompactness, in which 2 represents the Serial No. 595,773. (No model.)

rear horizontal portion, in which is contained any source of light-such,for instance, as an incandescent lamp 3, though any other suitablelighting device may be equally well employed, according to preference orrequire menta light-condensing lens 4, and grooved sockets 5, in whichsaid condensing-lens is supported.

(5 represents a ventilating-hood, and 7 the rear slide or door, whichmay be perforated, as shown, to admit air, if desired.

The front of the box or case, within which the devices to beexhibited-the clock-dial and their auiomatically-operating gearing orcloclnvorkare contained, extends "ertically upward in the form of a hood8, which has an opening in its lower portion through which thefocusing-tube 9, carrying the usual lenses, projects, as shown.

10 represents a diaphragm or disk upon which is hung or supported byarms or hangers l 1 the framework 12, within and on which is supportedthe clockwork or other mechanism for automatically operating atpredetermined intervalssuch, for instance, as every minute or everyhalf-minute or other fraction of timethe transparent disk 13 or other device carrying the advertising or other matter to be exhibited, and alsofor actuating the mechanism for actuating the hour and minute hands ofthe clock.

14 represents a circular or other shaped opening in the lower portion ofthe diaphragm or disk 10. The rear end of the focusingtube 9 is securedby flanges 15 to the outer face of said diaphragm or disk 10, so as tosurround said opening 14, the clock-face 16 being seated within acircumferential groove in said opening and the transparent disk 18rotating, as will presently appear, across the rear face of said opening14, so as to bring the advertising or other matter thereon in registrywith said opening at predetermined intervals, in order that as saidadvertising or other matter is brought into alincment with said opening14 the light will, through the condensing-lens 4, project the matter tobe exhibited through the focusing-lenses onto the screen or othersurface on which the ex hibition is to take place. v

17 represents a flanged ring which is seated in a circumferential groovein the rear face of the diaphragm or disk 10, around the viewopening 14therein. 'ithin the ring 17 are contained with freedom of rotatingtherein a pair of rings 18 19, carrying, respectively, the minute andhour hands 20 21. Each of these hand-carrying rings 18 19 has a toothedperiphery 22 23, respectively, which, as said rings are rotated, projectthrough a slot or opening 24 in the periphery of the ring 17 to admit oftheir teeth intermeshing with the teeth of a pair ofperipherally-toothed gears 25 26, carried by one of the arbors 27 ot'the clockwork.

28 represents a flange or lip which serves to prevent the lateraldisplacement of the toothed gears 18 10 25 26. The minute-hand issecured at its outer end by solder or otherwise to the inner edge of thering 19, while the hour-hand is held in position by a strip of glass ormica or other transparent material 28, secured to the other ring 18,soas to obviate the shadow on the exhibition surface which would resultwere said hand attached to the ring by wire.

29 represents a plurality of turn buttons or clips turnably secured atone end to the face of the disk 10 and extending up therefrom angularly,so as to extend over the rings 18 and 19 and retain them in position.

lVith the exceptions hereinafter mentioned the gearing or clockworkconnections,with the usual coiled spring employed for actuating the hourand minute hands to indicate time, is of the usual construction and maybe generally designated as 30, it not being deemed essential ornecessary to specifically refer by numerals to each individual gear andarbor of the well-known and common construction. A few changes andmodifications, her-cover, are necessary in the construction of myimproved apparatus, and they will now be referred to. On the inner endof the central arbor 31, having barrel-pinion connection 32 with thetoothed periphery 33 of the drivespring barrel 3 1-, the escapcmentmechanism for which is generally indicated by l is a gear 35, whichmeshes with a l?ll1';tlly-1')OSl tioned gear 86, which is mounted on anarbor 37, having rotatable hearing at one end in the framework 12 andnear its other end having rotatable bearing in the outer face of thediaphragm or disk 10.

41 represents a pinion mounted on the inwardly-extending and threadedinner end of the arbor 37 and having rotary movement within a recess $2.This iinion ll meshes with a gear 43, rotatably mounted within saidrecess 42 on a stud or pin 44:, having stationary bearing on the disk10. Centrally of this gear 43 and either mounted thereon or formedintegrally therewith is a pinion 4-5, which meshes with the peripheralteeth of a small gear-wheel 46, secured centrally to the inner face of alarge gear wheel or ring 25, having loose rotatable bearing on thethreaded inner end of the arbor 37. The peripheral teeth of this gear 25mesh with the peripheral teeth of the ring 18, carrying the hour-hand21.

26 represents another peripherally-toothed wheel, which has a threadedcentral bore to operaticely connect with the threaded inner end of thearbor 37. This toothed wheel at meshes with. the teeth of the ring 19,carrying the minute-hand.

It will thus be seen that while I locate the clock-face, theclock-hands, and the rings carrying the latter laterally of and belowthe regular clockwork and opposite the lenses I dispense with thenecessity of employing a distinct or dual series of clockwork, as 30,one for operatin the clock-hands and another for operating the diskcarrying the advertising or other matter to be exhibited. v

I will now proceed to describe the device carrying the advertising orpictorial matter to be exhibited and the mechanism for operating thesame intermittently at pret letermincd intervals.

"he disk 13, carrying the advertising or other matter to be exhibited,is preferablyof transparent materialas glass, mica, or the like-in orderthat the light from the lamp or other lighting device, as 3, may alwayspass through the same and through the clock-face to continuously exhibiton the screen or other space on which the exhibit is to be made the timeof day or night. At suitable intervals around this disk are displayed orattached in any suitable manner a series of advertisements, pictures, orthe like, as indicated at A, so that, as said disk is intermittentlyrotated, at each partial rotation thereof one of said devices to beexhibited is brought into alinement with and between the condensinglensL and the opening 1t in said disk 10, whereby such subject-matter is,through the media of the source of light and the lenses, projected, inconjunction. with the clock-face and the hour and minute hands, onto theex- 'hibition-suriace. Thisadvertisemen't-carrying disk 13 is centrallymounted on the threaded inwardly-cxtending end if) oi. the central shaft50. 51. represents flexible washers and 52 a pair of concaved washers orrings hav ing threaded bores to admit of adj ustmcnt on said centralshaft 50, and by means of which said disk 13 is removably and adjustablyclamped securely in position on said shaft 50. 53 represents a smallgear or barrel. pinion carried by said central shaft and meshing withthe large drive-gear 5st. represents a small gear mounted on the outerend 01 said central shaft 50 and meshing with a barrelpinion 56 on theouter end of an arbor 57, on whose other end is mounted a gear 58,having a pin 59, extending laterally from its outer face and meshingwith a barrel-pinion (30, carried by the shaft (31, on which is mountedthe ratchet-wheel (32. \Vith this ratchet-wheel engages a double-armedor V-shaped pawl or dog (i rockingly mounted on a rock-shaft (5st, forthe dual purpose of permitting said ratchet-wheel rotating the necessaryamount,

according to the distance the disk 13'is to rotate, and of holding saidratchetwheel locked to prevent its rotation at improper times.

(55 represents another pawl depending from a rock-shaft 66 and having atits lower end a pair of rearwardly-extending fingers 67 68, with whichthe forwardly-extending pin 59 on the gear 58 engages. When thebalancewheel and the gearing connected therewith have run the necessarydegree, as for a minute, the gear (59 is released one tooth, being thenengaged and held from further rotation by a spring-pawl 69, carried onthe rock-shaft 66, thus forming an escapement mechanism for thepower-pinion 5st. This act releases the main gear-wheel and permits itto rotate the barrel-pinion on the central shaft, on which is journaledthe advertisemcut-carryin g disk, and consequently rotate said centralshaft 50 a sufficient space to bring another advertisement opposite thefocusing and condensing lenses. The rotation of the central shaft and ofthe disk 13 carried thereby beyond the space necessary to exhibit thesucceeding advertisement or picture, or beyond the space between theindividual pairs thereof, is prevented by the two-fingered rocking pawldepending from the rock-shaft, said fingers the one engaging the fingeron the adj acent gear after said gear has shifted to give warning of theturning of the disk 1-3 and the other to lock said gear after itsrotation once around, said gear being actuated by the barrel-pinionmeshing with the gear on the central shaft, as before stated, theratchetwheel and its double-fingered dog permitting said fingered gearto rotate once around and then additionaliy lockingit, as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in this art on reference to thedrawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Anilluminated-sign apparatus, consisting of a box or case, a source oflight and a condensing-lens contained within the rear portion of saidbox or case, a focusing-tube extending forwardly from the lower portionof the front of said case, focusing-lenses carried by saidfocusing-tube, a stationary, ver tical, diaphragm contained within thefront portion of said case and having a view-opening at its lowerportion, a single set of cloc work contained within the front of saidcase and having bearing thereon and on said diaphragm, anintermittently-rotating horizontal shaft extending from said clockworkto and through said diaphragm, a rotatable transparent disk mounted onsaid shaft, a pair of cup-shaped, or concaved, and elastic washersmounted on said shaft on opposite sides of said transparent disk, andclamp-nuts also mounted on said shaft and adapted to adjustably clampsaid washers against the respective faces of said transparent disk so asto regulate and maintain the transparent disk in adjusted position onsaid shaft and afford cushion connection between said disk and shaft,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An illuminated-sign apparatus for {Liltomatieally displaying the timeand intermittently displaying pictorial or advertising matter,consisting of a box or case, a source of light and condensing andfocusing lenses contained therein, a stationary, vertical diaphragmlocated between the condensing and focusing lenses and having aview-opening in alinement with said lenses, a transparent clock-faceseated in said view-opening, a flanged ring seated in said view-openin gand having a notch or slot in one portion of its periphery, a pair ofperipherallytoothed rings having loose rotatable seating in said notchedring and carrying, respectively, the hour and minute hands, theminute-hand being secured to the inner edge of one of said rings and thehour-hand being carried by a projecting piece extending inwardly fromthe edge of the other ring, a pair of peripherallytoothed rings havingrotatable shaft-bearing in said stationary diaphragm and meshing,respectively, with said hand-carrying rings, one of said first-namedrings being actuated by said shaft and the other through the me dium ofa pinion thereon, and gearing located in a recess in said stationarydiaphragm and connected with said shaft, a single clockwork carried bysaid stationary diaphragm, a transparent disk having thereon thesubjects to be represented and an intermittently-rotating shaftconnected with and extending from said clockwork through said stationarydiaphragm and trai'isparent disk, respectively, and serving tointermittently rotate said transparent disk, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

An illuminated-sign apparatus for antomatically displaying the time andintermittently displaying the matter to be exhibited, consisting of acase, a source of light and condensing and focusing lenses containedtherein, a stationary vertical diaphragm or disk located forwardly ofthe condensinglens and having a view-opening in aline ment with saidlenses, a transparent clock-face seated in said view-opening, a flangedring seated in said view-opening and having a notched periphery, a pairof peripherallytoothed rings having loose rotatable bearing in saidnotched ring and carrying, respectively, the hour and minute hands, theminutehand being secured to the inner edge of one of said rings and thehour-hand being carried by a projection extending inwardly from theother ring, a pair of peripherallytoothed rings having rotatableshaft-bearing in said stationary disk or diaphragm and meshing,respectively, wit-h said hand-carrying rings, one of said first-namedrings being actuated by said shaft and the other through the medium of apinion thereon and gearing located in a recess in said stationary diaphragm and connected with said shaft, a single clockwork carried by saidstationary diaphragm, a transparent disk having thereon the subjects tobe exhibited, an intermittently-rotating shaft connected with andextending from said clockwork to and connectin g the stationarydiaphragm and the trans parent disk, respectively, said shaft beingthreaded at that portion thereof on which the transparent disk ismounted, concavod washers having threaded bores and engaged with thethreaded portion of said shaft on opposite sides of said transparentdisk, flexible washers interposed between said concaved washers and thefaces of said transparent disk and clamp-nuts adapted to clamp saidconcaved washers in position to cushion and firmly clam-p said disk onsaid shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An illuminated-sign apparatus, consisting of a case, a source oflight and condensing and focusing lenses contained therein, a stationaryvertical disk or diaphragm located between the condensing and focusinglenses and having a view-openin g in alinement with said lenses, asingle set of clockwork carried by said stationary disk, a transparentdisk having thereon the subjects to be represented, a shaft extendingfrom said clockwork through said stationary and transparent disks andserving to intermittently rotate said transparent disk, gearingconnected with said shaft, a toothed wheel connected with saidshaft-operatin g gearing and having a laterally-extending pin, arock-shaft, a pawl depending therefrom and having a bifurcated lower endto engage the pin on said gear, and a second spring-pawl depending fromsaid rock-shaft and adapted to ride over and engage the teeth of theprincipal gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An illuminated-sign apparatus, for antomatically displaying the timeand intermittently displaying pictorial or advertising matter,consisting of a box or case, a source of light and condensing andfocusing lenses contained therein, a stationary vertical disk ordiaphragm located between the condensing and focusing lenses and havinga viewopening in alinement with said lenses, a transparent clock-faceseated in said viewopening, a flanged ring seated in said viewopeningand having a notch or slot in one portion of its periphery, a pair ofperipheral toothed rings having loose rotatable seat in said notchedring and carrying, respectively, the hour and minute hands, a pair ofperipherally-toothed rings having rotatable shaftbearing in saidstationary disk and meshing,

respectively, with said hand-carrying rings, one of said first-namedrings being actuated by said shaft and the other through the medium of apinion thereon and a pinion on said shaft, clockwork carried by saidstationary disk, a transparent disk having thereon the subjects to beillustrated, a shaft extending from said clockwork through saidstationary and transparent disks and serving to intermittently rotatesaid transparent disk, concaved washers carried by said shaft andflexible washers interposed between said concaved washers and thetransparent disk to clamp said disk on said shaft, gearing connectedwith said shaft, a toothed wheel connected with said shaft-operatin ggearing and having alaterally-extendin g pi'n,arock-sl1aft, a pawldepending therefrom and having a bifurcated lower end to engage the pinon said gear, and a second spring-pawl depending from said rock-shaftand adapted to ride over and engage the teeth of the principal gear,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An illuminated-sign apparatus, consisting of a box or case, anilluminating device and light condensing and focusing lenses containedtherein, a transparent disk located between said illuminating device andthe lenses and having thereon the subject-matter to be displayed, adiaphragm located forwardly of said disk and having a transverse openingin alinement with said lenses, a transparent clockface and a pair ofclockhand-carrying toothed rings seated within said opening, a singleset of clockwork 1nounted on said diaphragm, a shaft having bearing onsaid diaphragm and connecting, respectively, with said transparent diskand with said clockwork, a rock-shaft, a springpawl carried by saidrock-shaft and engaging with one of the gears of said clockwork, and abifurcated dog also carried by said rockshaft and engaging with a pin onanother of said gears to intermittently rotate the shaft connecting thetransparent disk and clockwork, a shaft connected with said clockworkand extending rearwardly therefrom, and pinions mounted on the rear ofsaid lastnamed shaft and gearing with the clockhand-carrying rings,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH ll. RICHARDSON. iVitn esses:

JNo. A. Scnnrrr, D. L. SCHAUM.

